Minister Fleming made the announcement at the site of the current school alongside the SD43 Board of Education Chair, Kerri Palmer Isaak. Also making speeches to trustees, district leadership, students, parents, and other guests were SD43 Superintendent Patricia Gartland and school Principal Laurie Birnie.

"We are very pleased to receive this funding to replace Irvine Elementary School," said Kerri Palmer Isaak, Chair, School District 43 (Coquitlam) Board of Education. "Providing exceptional facilities is important to us and we appreciate the support of this government in recognizing the need for replacing and upgrading older schools in our school district.

The Irvine Elementary replacement school will increase capacity to 80 Kindergarten and 425 elementary spaces from the current 40 Kindergarten and 350 elementary spaces. The new school will also have a Neighbourhood Learning Centre to support school and community needs and a new and improved drop-off area and parking lot.

"It is exciting that our students, teachers and staff will have a new school in which to learn and work. I wish to thank our Trustees and district staff for their outstanding work over a long period in achieving this result," added Patricia Gartland, School District Superintendent.

Students will benefit from this exceptional facility with construction expected to begin in Spring 2019, but before then they will be providing input and feedback to the architects to help design their new school.

The school will be built adjacent to the existing building, where students will remain during construction. Once the new school is completed in fall 2020, the old school will be demolished.